Professor Mattheos (Mat) Santamouris from UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture has secured $570,000 in funding during the latest Discovery Project (DP) round from the Australian Research Council (ARC).
The funding will go towards his new project titled, ‘Fluorescent daytime radiative cooling for urban heat mitigation.’
The project aims to develop a fluorescent daytime radiative cooling technology suitable for the mitigation of urban overheating in the built environment and for the reduction of future cooling energy demands in buildings.
Professor Mattheos Santamouris.
Professor Santamouris’ project is one of 65 from UNSW to have received more than $27 million in funding from ARC, including one focused on systemic risk in insurance.
The ARC’s Discovery scheme aims to expand the knowledge base and research capacity in Australia and support research that will provide economic, commercial, environmental, social and/or cultural benefits for the nation.
UNSW Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, Professor Sven Rogge, applauded the University’s academics on their research funding success.
A champion of multiculturalism, advocate for migrant issues and Melbourne jazz legend – three perfect descriptors of Nick Polites OAM who recently died at the age of 95.
To mark his sad passing, The Greek Herald takes a look back at his incredible life and achievements.
Early Life:
Nick Polites’ father, Theodore, migrated from Lefkada to South Africa in 1898. In 1900, he came to Melbourne where he met Filia, an Asia Minor refugee, and married in 1924.
In 1927, Filia gave birth to Nick.
Nick finished school in Elwood and studied Commerce, Languages and Arts at Melbourne University. After graduation, he took the helm of the family business, a confectionary factory.
Nick Polites OAM.
Social work for the Greek community:
In 1971, Nick sold the family’s confectionary factory and moved on to migrant services. He became one of the founders of the Greek Australian Welfare Society, Pronia, and ended up being Director for 15 years.
When they were facing a shortage of Greek speaking social workers, he went back to university to get a degree in social work.
Legendary jazz musician:
In amongst his social work, Nick was also living a parallel life as a legendary jazz musician in Melbourne.
Nick was also a legendary jazz musician.
At just 19 years of age in 1946, Nick played his clarinet at the first ever Australian Jazz Convention, which is now the world’s longest-standing jazz festival.
Later, he also played with the biggest jazz bands in Melbourne, as well as with legends like George Lewis and Louis Armstrong.
Nick’s Legacy:
In 1981, Nick was awarded the Order of Australia Medal and the Spiro Stamoulis Lifetime Achievement Award 2020 by the Australian Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Nick remained active and creative until the last years of his life. He was still playing live jazz music until recently on a weekly basis.
In a proud moment for the Greek community of New South Wales, seven Greek Australian students have come first in the state for their Higher School Certificate (HSC) subjects this year.
The students are:
– Diana Vlahos: First in Biology, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College.
– Mary Diamond: First in Music 1, St Spyridon College.
– Isander Mesimeris: First in Classical Greek Continuers and Classical Greek Extension, Sydney Grammar School.
– Kleopatra Calfas: First in Modern Greek Beginners, NSW School of Languages.
– George Papacosta: First in Modern Greek Beginners, NSW School of Languages.
– Styliani Koliris: First in Modern Greek Continuers, St Euphemia College.
– Konstantinos Zisopoulos: First in Modern Greek Extension, St Euphemia College.
NSW Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell, had to break the news to five of the students over the phone and one of them was Diana Vlahos.
“Her mum is a biology teacher, so I think she would be particularly proud of her daughter,” Ms Mitchell told The Sydney Morning Herald.
NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet, also congratulated the students on their outstanding results, achieved despite two challenging years.
“To top the state in an HSC course is an incredible achievement at the best of times; to do so today highlights even more so the grit, dedication and talent of the students being recognised,” Mr Perrottet said.
Excluding language schools and outside tutors, 41 awards went to students at public schools and TAFEs, 17 went to students from Catholic systemic schools and 62 were awarded to students from independent schools.
About 76,000 HSC students who sat at least one exam in 2021 will receive their results by SMS, email and online from 6am tomorrow.
*Please Note: The above students are those The Greek Herald could identify by their Greek name. If you believe you should be on this list, please send an email to info@foreignlanguage.com.au.
Greece’s Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, John Chrysoulakis, has sent his congratulations to the President of the Greek Community of Melbourne, Bill Papastergiadis.
Congratulations were in order after Moray & Agnew Lawyers Melbourne, which is headed by Mr Papastergiadis, was ranked amongst the leading firms in this year’s Legal 500 Asia Pacific Directory.
Moray & Agnew was recognised as a leading firm in Asia Pacific and ranked from top 10 to top 25 in four major areas of practice – Construction, Insurance, Real Estate, and Labour and Employment.
“Warm congratulations to a great friend and the President of the Greek Community of Melbourne, Bill Papastergiadis, for the important distinction of his law firm…” Mr Chrysoulakis said in his statement.
Bill Papastergiadis.
“I am particularly happy because a leading Greek expatriate from Australia with a great work ethic, both in the professional arena and in the Greek community, received this high distinction. I wish him success always!”
For his part, at the time of the announcement last week, Mr Papastergiadis said he was “delighted that so many of our lawyers and practice groups have been applauded as the great lawyers they are.”
“This continued recognition firmly places our firm amongst Australia’s leading law firms. This is a fantastic achievement by our dedicated staff,” he said.
Legal 500 is a leading directory of law firms in over 150 global jurisdictions, and annually ranks law firms based on independent feedback from thousands of corporate counsel and other law firm clients.
Throughout it all, the crowd were entertained by the Canberran’s usual antics. At one stage, he even flicked the ball between his legs to the Briton.
“Obviously I served… well today,” the hometown hero said with a smirk as the crowd roared its approval after the match.
There were concerns for Kyrgios ahead of his match after he contracted COVID-19 just last week. He admitted in his on-court interview that he was bedridden for two days.
Kyrgios’ on-court interview. Photo: Getty Images.
“I was concerned I wasn’t going to be physically ready to play. I took it day by day, looked at the bright side and took pressure off,” Kyrgios said.
“I was so excited to be here, first match of the year, my favourite court in the entire world.”
Kyrgios’ win will now see him play world number two Daniil Medvedev on Thursday.
Stefanos Tsitsipas claims straight-sets win:
Greek world number four, Stefanos Tsitsipas, put on a clinical show in his opening round match at the Australian Open on Tuesday, claiming a straight-sets win against Mikael Ymer of Sweden 6-2 6-4 6-3.
Tsitsipas broke Ymer seven times and hit 30 winners to seal the contest in two hours and 10 minutes in the final match of the second day at Rod Laver Arena.
Photo: Steve Trikoulis @trikoulisphotgraphy.
The Greek, however, was not happy with the 38 unforced errors he committed in the match.
“There were a lot of rallies, a lot of ball exchanges, he gave me a hard time, he was going after every single ball and stayed in the match for as long as he could,” Tsitsipas said in his on-court interview.
“I will be trying to decrease the amount of unforced errors, I think I had a few more than I usually have. I’ll be trying to keep the consistency and trying to attack a bit more, be a bit more daring in certain moments.”
Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas and Sweden’s Mikael Ymer shake hands after their first round match. Photo: Asanka Brendon Ratnayake / Reuters.
The French Open finalist showed no signs of discomfort from a right elbow issue that forced him to miss a number of matches at the end of last season and also did not allow him to play at full tilt at the start of 2022.
Ymer showed glimpses of his talent and had his chances but could only convert two of his 11 breakpoint opportunities. The frustration ultimately got to the Swede as he kept punching his towel-clad head repeatedly during a changeover.
The Greek will next meet Argentina’s 21-year-old Sebastian Baez, ranked 88th, for a place in the third round.
Greek MEP, Eva Kaili, was elected one of the European Parliament’s (EP) 14 vice-presidents on Tuesday.
Kaili, who was elected for the Movement for Change (KINAL) party and sits with the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats group, received 454 votes.
She came fifth out of nine candidates and was thus elected to the position in the first round.
Greek MEP, Eva Kaili, was elected one of the European Parliament’s (EP) 14 vice-presidents on Tuesday.
Kaili’s productive and intensely active presence in the EP in previous years contributed to her election. Her widely supported legislative work and the initiatives she took with the establishment of the Artificial Intelligence Centre, but also her chairing of the Science and Technology Committee and the European Science and Media Centre, made her one of the most influential and popular MEPs.
Nikos Androulakis, leader of KINAL/PASOK, tweeted his congratulations to Kaili, saying it was the first time since 2014 that an elected member from their party held the position.
Συγχαρητήρια @EvaKaili για την εκλογή σου! Για πρώτη φορά από το 2014 το Κίνημά μας θα έχει Αντιπρόεδρο του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου. Καλή επιτυχία στα νέα σου καθήκοντα! https://t.co/ghMmfTV7uh
A third ballot will now be held to fill the last two vice-presidencies.
Dimitris Papadimoulis, a SYRIZA MEP who sits with the Left group, is one of five candidates for the last two positions.
Roberta Metsola, a Christian Democratic politician from Malta, was also elected president of the European Union’s parliament on Tuesday, taking over for a 2.5-year term following the death of Socialist David Sassoli last week.
The funeral for renowned Greek painter, Alekos Fassianos, who died on Sunday at the age of 87 after a long illness, was held in the Papagou cemetery in Athens on Tuesday.
“The public’s unexpected love for Alekos Fassianos is proof that despite the difficult times we are experiencing, we still have good feelings inside us,” Alekos’ widow, Mariza Fassianou, said at the funeral while thanking those who have expressed their support for the family.
Credit: Paris Tavitian.
Among those in attendance at the funeral were Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, as well as friends and colleagues of the painter.
“All the work of Fassianos, the colours that filled his canvases, the multidimensional forms that dominated his paintings, exude Greece,” Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said in a tribute following his death.
Η Ελλάδα δεν έχει πια μαζί της έναν μεγάλο καλλιτέχνη. Ο Αλέκος Φασιανός μάς αφήνει πολύτιμη κληρονομιά το έργο του. Μαζί με όλους τους Έλληνες αποχαιρετώ έναν φίλο. Μοιράζομαι τη μεγάλη θλίψη με την σύζυγο, τα δύο παιδιά του και τους δικούς του ανθρώπους. https://t.co/AljyMuIMDopic.twitter.com/yyzhRRRTZl
“Greece no longer has with it a great artist who lavished colour on its daily life,” the Prime Minister added.
Fassianos has been described by some as Greece’s Picasso and was a graduate of the Athens Academy of Fine Arts. He moved to Paris in 1960 to study lithography at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts.
He adopted a personal anthropocentric style, influenced by abstract art. Many of his works adorn public spaces, including a mural at an Athens subway station.
The traditional Blessing of the Waters was held in South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania over the weekend to much joy from the parishioners who attended.
Here’s our list of all the winners and events which were held in those states and territories:
South Australia:
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, District of Adelaide Glenelg:
On Sunday, January 9, 2022, the Blessing of the Waters ceremony took place at Glenelg Jetty for the 42nd successive year.
His Grace Bishop Silouan of Sinope, together with Adelaide’s Orthodox Christian clergy, led a procession onto the Glenelg Jetty for the annual event.
In attendance were a number of prominent dignitaries including the Minister for Trade and Investment, Stephen Patterson, representing SA Premier Steven Marshall; the Mayor of Holdfast Bay, Amanda Wilson; Tom Koutsantonis MP; Andrea Michaels MP; the Chair of SAMEAC, Adriana Chrisopoulos; and the President of the Inter-communities Council of SA, Dr Vladimir Devrelis.
All photos by Argyro Vourdoumpa / The Greek Herald.
They all watched in excitement as many swimmers, young and old, endeavoured to be the first to retrieve the Holy Cross which was thrown into the sea from the jetty.
Ultimately, Stelios Zacharakis (Στέλιος Ζαχαράκης), 20, who is in his second year at university studying dentistry, retrieved the Holy Cross. Stelios is from the Parish of Prophet Elias, Norwood and this year was the third time he dived for the cross.
Stelios Zacharakis.
“I feel very lucky and happy,” Stelios told The Greek Herald and encouraged more people to participate next year.
“Go for it. This is my third year. Third year is the charm. It’s all about life really.”
This Blessing of the Waters ceremony was followed by the traditional Glenelg Greek Festival which, for the first time this year, has taken place over two days on Saturday, January 8 and Sunday, January 9 at the grassed foreshore area in front of the Stamford Grand Hotel.
Greek Orthodox Community of SA (GOCSA), Henley Beach:
The Greek Orthodox Community of SA (GOCSA) honoured Epiphany in a scaled down Blessing of the Waters event held at the Henley Beach Jetty on Sunday midday.
The Community cancelled this year’s festival due to the increasing COVID cases in the state.
“It is our duty to protect the community. Health and wellbeing come first and we’ll gather next year to celebrate with a bigger event,” GOCSA President, Bill Gonis said in his speech.
All photos by The Greek Herald / Argyro Vourdoumpa.
Among the special guests and dignitaries were Matt Cowdrey MP representing the Premier Steven Marshall, Mark Butler MP Federal Member for Hindmarsh, Jayne Stinson MP, Mayor of the City of Charles Sturt Angela Evans, Deputy Mayor of West Torrens George Vlahos, Councillor of the City of Charles Sturt and new Labor candidate for the State Seat of Colton, Paul Alexandrides.
Nine people in total -among them two girls- dived for the Cross with first timer Hristos Likouras (Χρήστος Λικούρας), 30, being the winner.
“I feel overwhelmed,” he told The Greek Herald. “When I woke up this morning, I never thought I would retrieve the Cross but I tried regardless. If you have highs and lows in life just try and get through each day.”
ACT:
Canberra’s Greek community gathered together at Casuarina Sands on Sunday, January 9 to celebrate the annual Blessing of the Waters.
The event, which was organised by the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra (GOCCC), began with a Matins and Divine Liturgy service at the local St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.
The liturgy was presided over by the Archepiscopal Vicar of Canberra His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis, with the assistance of parish priest, Father Petros Kipouros.
Photos: Facebook.
During a sermon, His Grace emphasised the importance of mirroring one’s life on St John by loving and trusting God and not being afraid to express one’s Orthodox Christian faith.
After the service, Bishop Bartholomew and the parishioners travelled to Casuarina Sands to witness the throwing of the Holy Cross into the water as swimmers attempted to retrieve it.
In the end, Emmanuel Papanikolaou, 18, who’s heritage is from Samos, was named the winner.
“It feels really good,” Emmanuel told The Greek Herald.
“It’s a good day out with the community and it’s really fun. I’m just glad it could go ahead because I thought it would get cancelled due to COVID-19. So I’m really happy.”
Tasmania:
The Greek community of Tasmania also held the traditional Blessing of the Waters at Sandy Bay Beach on Sunday, January 9.
Following a Divine Liturgy service, parishioners went down to the beach area and cheered as swimmers jumped in to retrieve the Holy Cross from the water.
Photos supplied.
The service was presided over by Father Dimitrios from Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and Father Matthew from St George Greek Orthodox Church in Hobart.
20-year-old Yiannis Anagnostis from Hobart successfully retrieved the cross this year after many years of entering the race.
“We weren’t expecting anything flash. We were just coming out for a better life,” Angelos Zissis, 71, tells The Greek Herald as we sit down for our exclusive chat.
‘Nothing flash’ is exactly what Angelos and his family were faced with when they first migrated to Australia from Greece in 1954 and ended up at the Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre.
Bonegilla was the official employment office through which about 15,000 assisted Greek migrants were processed in what was called ‘the ICEM Greek Project’ between 1953 and 1956.
Greek migrant next to the Bonegilla sign. Photos by Vogiazopoulos.
Greek dancing at Bonegilla.
On arrival at the centre, Greek migrants were allocated a hut and issued with eating utensils, crockery, towels and bedding. The living conditions were very basic and as Angelos remembers, it definitely wasn’t a five-star resort.
“It was like an army camp,” Angelos, who was five years old at the time, says.
“But obviously all the Greeks stuck together because they could speak the language.”
Angelos Zissos (bottom row, centre) at Bonegilla. Photo supplied.
Of course, newcomers could choose to attend language classes where they were taught survival English and something about Australian ways, including weights and measures, hygiene standards, history and geography.
But still many Greeks weren’t able to get used to other aspects of the camp, such as the British-style meals which were served in the cafeteria.
“Coming from a Greek background, the Greek cuisine was very different… so [the food] was pretty tasteless to them initially,” Angelos explains.
Julia Fragopoulos, who’s dad stayed in Bonegilla when he migrated to Australia with his family in 1957, couldn’t agree more.
Julia Fragopoulos’ parents on their wedding day (centre). Photo supplied.
She shares how her dad’s mum was so ‘fed up’ with the ‘bland food’ at Bonegilla that she took matters into her own hands.
“My grandma went picking for radikia (dandelion greens) in the field and then went to the local chemist to buy some oil to cook them,” Julia says with a little laugh.
Others, such as Lambis Englezos who migrated to Australia in 1954, saw Greek migrants ‘catch rabbits’ at a nearby lake and cook those for dinner.
People in Bonegilla hunted for rabbits. Photo by Vogiazopoulos.
Ultimately however, many didn’t have to suffer the unsavoury food for long as Bonegilla was an in-between place, a transition zone.
Within a number of weeks, Greek migrants usually left Bonegilla to undertake two years of labour of the Australian government’s choice.
Many ended up working on construction sites and with the railway in remote areas, before they were free to make their own way in the country.
Lambis Englezos’ family left Greece and ended up in Bonegilla. They didn’t regret their decision.
Many never looked back.
“We didn’t leave Greece with my grandmother’s blessing, but my father told me he never regretted the decision to come out to Australia. It was very difficult making the change but he didn’t regret it,” Lambis concludes.
A sentiment echoed by many who passed through the gates of Bonegilla and moved onto a better life Down Under.
On Wednesday, South Australian tennis player Thanasi Kokkinakis recorded his first back-to-back match win on the ATP Tour since 2019 and stunned No.4 seed Frances Tiafoe to reach the Adelaide International quarterfinals.
“To play in front of friends and family, and to be playing at home there’s nothing better,” Kokkinakis said on court post-match.
His triumphant comeback has lit up not only his home city of Adelaide but also his family and the Greek community around the country.
“I feel proud not only for his latest successes but mostly for the resilience and the strength of character he showed to come back and get his tennis career on track,” Kokkinakis’ father, Trevor (Tryfon) told The Greek Herald ahead of tonight’s match.
“The last five years he has been through a lot with injuries and the mental battles forced on by those injuries. But he persisted and we are all proud of him.”
Thanasi Kokkinakis (centre) with his family, January 2014. Photo: David Caird, News Limited
Apart from his tennis skills the 25-year-old tennis player is popular for his natural sense of humour, sportsmanship and the fact that with every chance he gets he acknowledges the people who have supported him in this journey, especially his immigrant parents, Trevor and Voula, older siblings Christina and Panagioti, his trainers and coaches.
According to his father, the values Thanasi often exhibits on and off court are due to his upbringing.
“We brought up our children with the values we inherited from our migrant parents. Respect, the importance of family and love for each other,” he said.
“We are very proud Australians of Greek heritage and we appreciate this country that accepted us and gave our families a chance.”
Asked how he would like to see his son in the future, Trevor Kokkinakis refers to morals rather than victories and scores on billboards.
“Sincere, with manners and respect for people around him.”
“The career path he chose puts him in the spotlight. However, this doesn’t make him superior from someone who works in a factory or out in the fields,” he said admitting that it takes a village to… raise an athlete.
“Athletes have more pressure than all of us. They need strength of character and they need to be role models for others.”
Tonight, Trevor Kokkinakis will watch from the player’s box at the Memorial Drive Centre Court as his son takes on Mikael Ymer.
With a Greek village behind him for support, we are certain that Thanasis has what it takes to win his first ATP Tour-level quarterfinal and certainly a bright future ahead.
